Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Some compromise between these two attitudes may be seen in the Neo-Traditional
or New Urbanism approaches of the late twentieth century described in Chap. 2.
They have attempted to recreate the ambiance of urban areas a century earlier, by
creating areas with mixtures of housing styles and designs, more emphasis on pe-
destrian movement, the addition of suburban employment areas, shopping centres
and providing better transport services to these dominantly car-orientated areas.
In addition, there have been greater attempts to use buildings more effectively by
encouraging mixed uses within them, such as libraries and community halls in the
same building, or making some school areas, whether playgrounds or libraries, open
to community groups in the evenings. However, policies to create such land-use
these mixtures ought to be supported by the voters before being implemented.
3﻽5﻽3﻽2
Accessible and Varied Public Spaces
They should be provided to the population at large, whether in the form of parks
for recreation or open spaces that can be used for many activities, from festivals to
markets and concerts. Many cities already have precise guidelines providing mini-
mum standards for open spaces, and various types of parks and recreation facilities
in cities, part of the progressive amenity provision policies created in the last cen-
tury—policies which have gained greater support from the rise of the conservation
and environmental movements and which will be described in Chaps. 5 and 6. In the
last decade some of these open space areas have been under threat as municipalities
have sold public lands, which have then been commercialised or privatised. Hence
by explicitly identifying the need for various types of space, the pressure for its
privatisation and loss to the public sector may be reduced. In deprived inner cities
the private ownership of land means that greater funding is needed to buy land to
provide more green space for the residents.
3﻽5﻽3﻽3
Group Needs
Those who suffer systemic discrimination should be assisted in obtaining access
to housing, education and employment opportunities. Many believe that the needs
of these groups should be implemented without the creation of large segregated
areas and the top-down management of so many post World War II social housing
projects, perhaps by non-profit groups that involve the locals in decision-making
and in the provision of services—from shops to maintenance—as well as safety,
which were often ignored in many of these schemes. Also, after the feminist cri-
tiques of the patriarchal nature of western society from 1970s, there can be little
doubt that there is need for explicit attention to problems faced by women, such
as safety, also and policies that create more affordable day-care spaces. These may
be best addressed at a city level. Once gender differences are scrutinized it is but a
small step to ask questions about solving discriminations faced by others, such as
those suffered by people of a different race, those who are disabled, elderly or have
Search WWH ::




Custom Search